Comment from Father Flaps

Excellent

Hi Paul,
I really enjoyed this one. I wish I could still play basketball, but I'm lucky to be able to walk the Grand Bay Trail without my hip aching. Back in the day, I wasn't a bad guard. And I sunk a few long shots, too. To be able to play with your son must have been pretty special.
This is my favorite time of year for sports... just finished enjoying the NFL playoffs and Super Bowl. The Daytona 500 is tomorrow!!! The Maine High School Basketball tournament starts March 3rd, with games coming from Augusta, Portland, and Bangor. I really enjoy that. They get into the sport down there. (I live in New Brunswick... Saint John.) One of these years, I'm going to go down there and watch a few of the AA and A class games. Then, on March 14th, it's March Madness! I'd rather watch NCAA basketball than the NBA. NBA looks so phony baloney to me.
Anyway, this is a great entry for the 100 Word Flash. Everyone is pumped, including Dad!
Cheers,
Kimbob

 Comment Written 18-Feb-2023

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reply by the author on 18-Feb-2023

Thanks for digging up this old one, Kimbob. I have attended many tournament games in Bangor. It wasn't too many years ago that my grandson was the MVP at the eastern Maine A tournament. He achieved that honor three years in a row. Our team became state champs in two of those three years.

Comment from Jannypan (Jan)

Excellent

I enjoyed your contest entry, Mystery Author.
You included great details of the members of
each team. Since this is a flash fiction contest,
I suggest you delete the note about it being real.
Best wishes, Jan

 Comment Written 11-Jul-2022

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reply by the author on 11-Jul-2022

Thanks, Jan. I still dream of doing that again.

Comment from Gypsy Blue Rose

Excellent

Excellent entry for the 100 Word Flash writing prompt contest about a dead dad who plays basketball with his son in heaven.

Good word count and with nice presentation. It flows well with descriptive words that paint a clear mental picture.

Good luck in the contest.

Gypsy Blue Rose
The poet waits quietly to paint the unsaid. Atticus

 Comment Written 11-Jul-2022

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reply by the author on 11-Jul-2022

Thanks, Gypsy. Heaven was a metaphor. I am still alive.

Comment from Tom Horonzy

Excellent

A hundred words seemed not enough to relate this touching story and yet you did. Thanks for writing a remindful piece as I played well into my forties. Use to love the game but today the threes, may be exciting, but the strategy is mundane.

 Comment Written 11-Jul-2022

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reply by the author on 11-Jul-2022

You got that right. That three point shot has changed the game drastically

Comment from LateBloomer

Excellent

Hello author, very good imagery and very cute.

I especially liked your ending:
I am fifty-five years old and am wondering if I can compete at this level.
I am in heaven.

(Author, you are in Heaven and you still got it!)

This story made me smile. Well done. LateBloomer

 Comment Written 10-Jul-2022

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reply by the author on 10-Jul-2022

Thanks for your review. I am sure that you can compete at some level. It's amazing how many age groups they have today for the various sports.

Comment from Rachelle Allen

Excellent

Oh. Come. ONNNN. You're going to start this day out for me crying?? Well, the point of writing IS to evoke emotion...so, Mission Accomplished. I was TOTALLY blindsided by this. Excellent work. So extremely well done! Thank you.

 Comment Written 10-Jul-2022

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reply by the author on 10-Jul-2022

Thanks, Rachelle. It sounds like you might have had a few situations where you did some things with your offsprings.

reply by Rachelle Allen on 10-Jul-2022

Absolutely! Do you know this quote: Once you have a child, you forevermore wear your heart on the outside of your body. That kind of vulnerability leaves one susceptible to a beautiful story like yours.

Comment from Wendy G

Excellent

I hope you did your son proud and were able to play at your best. You wrote your short story well. Are we to assume it's fiction for the contest? If so, best wishes for your entry. If not - well done with your basketball game, anyway.
Wendy

 Comment Written 10-Jul-2022

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reply by the author on 10-Jul-2022

Thanks, Wendy. I probably was not playing at my best. My best was thirty years earlier.

Comment from Goodadvicechan

Excellent

You started with ten men are gathered at the center. That is a good way to start the story. You are clear in telling us what the referee does.

Thanks for sharing this piece with us.
Good luck to your contest.

Blessings

 Comment Written 10-Jul-2022

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reply by the author on 10-Jul-2022

Thanks for the review. Those were great days.

Comment from John Ciarmello

Excellent

Hmm? Did you mean he is in Heaven for the joy of playing the game with his son, or is he in Heaven because he died playing the game? I think the double meaning is super original, and I loved the piece. Best, JohnC

 Comment Written 09-Jul-2022

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reply by the author on 10-Jul-2022

Thanks, John. I was in heaven because of the joy of playing with my son.

Comment from jessizero

Excellent

This was a great true story! It sounds like you had a really great time, as you described it as being in Heaven. Thank you for sharing this, and best wishes to you.

 Comment Written 09-Jul-2022

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reply by the author on 09-Jul-2022

Thanks, Jessi. I wouldn't trade those games for the world./